Recycling for Charity: old and unwanted books
This page lists charities and other organisations collecting old and unwanted books.
If any details are incorrect or you know of any other groups collecting them, please leave a comment below and I’ll update the listings.
- For ways to reuse and recycle the school textbooks instead, check out our post: “how can I reuse or recycle a load of old school textbooks?“
- For ways to reuse obsolete technical books (and the like), check out our post: “how can I reuse or recycle obsolete old books?
| Who | Why | Country | Contact details |
| READ International |
The charity collects old textbooks from schools via its 45 Book Projects across the UK and sends them out to East Africa. Books not suitable for sending will either be sold to raise money or recycled – no books go to landfill. |
UK | |
| Community H.E.A.R.T. |
The campaign’s aim is to set up school libraries in South Africa so children will have access to books they enjoy reading: story books, novels, information books, the sort of book you would give a child or young person for their birthday or their Christmas. They ask for 10p with each book too, to help with shipping costs. |
UK |
Read their guidelines to see the type of books they’re collecting |
| British Heart Foundation |
The BHF have specialist music and book stores throughout the country, which can make the most of specialist or obscure books. |
UK |
Or take donations directly to the shops in Brighton, Harrogate, Chelthenham, Clifton, Reading or Streatham |
- Find out how to recycle other things for charity with the Recycle This Recycling for Charity Directory
If you live in East London Stratford train Station has a book swap. The shelves are located in the main tunnel, near the stairs to Platform 5 and next to the Kiosk. Any kind of books gratefully received, especially those in languages other than English. You can leave 1 book, or lots of books, on your way through the station.
East Village (former Olympic Athletes Village) E20 has a Little Free Library. This is located in Victory Park on the side closest to Westfield.
stratfordbookswap@gmail.com
I am a Ghanaian living in Kumasi. I am looking for Old books, second hand clothing for charity.
Please, assist me.
Thanks.
Francisca.
I have some science snd medical uni books as well as school reading books and gen er ral knowledge based on London nw
Hi,
I would like to have french books for my community in Africa ifyou have any.
Thankyou
Hello,
I have plenty of French book for adults (thrillers) to give away. Are you interested?
Thank you
Marion
Yes, I am collecting French books to send Africa (French colony). Please do contact me on this email.
Claudine Barrington-cook
Hi Marion, do you still have the french books ? I’m collecting for an orphanage in Togo , let me know :)
Hi Fatima, Are you still looking for French books? I have a full box of French books, mainly for children and classic adult literature.
Let me know if you want them.
Regards,
Greg Barber
Hi !, do you still have the french books ? I’m collecting for an orphanage in Togo , let me know :)
Hi Fatima
I have quite a few French books (mostly thrillers and some classics). Are you interested? Please let me know
Thank you,
Julie
Hi Julie, do you still have the french books ? I’m collecting for an orphanage in Togo , let me know :)
We need children’s ballet books for our literacy and ballet project in Gambia, West Africa.
I have a great many second hand books. Donated for a village library, at least 100 are bow unwanted. Many (though not all) are still in reasonable condition.
(email me at rosemarypollock1789@googlemail.com)
You are going to need to click the link in that e mail ahead of you can post stuff on Knoji.
I work in a boys grammar school in Gloucestershire and we have GCSE/A level maths and history text books that we no longer require.
Would anyone be interested in having them, for free? They would have to be collected as there are lots of them!
Hi – I am helping my mum give away a huge collection of books that she has collected over the years. Many of them are leather bound sets of novels by authors such as DH Lawrence, Somerset Maughan, Dickens, etc. Are these of interest to anyone?
Please let me know. Also – I would rather not pay a huge amount to ship/dispatch anywhere if possible.
Kind regards
Rachel
Dear Rachel
I do lots of work with various charities and community group so would
be interested.
I’m based in London and could collect if you are in the London area.
Whereabours are you based?
Thanks
Regards
Linda
Hello Linda
l’ve got around 50-90 various fictional books purchased from Waterstones all in pretty good condition. l am based in Belfast please let me know if you would have any interest as l would be happy to donate these to your reading group.
regards Wendy
I,too, have lots of unwanted books after a de-cluttering exercise. ( novels, science, photography etc. ! ) I live in Lewisham and could deliver to London area. Interested?
Email address : lesleymryan@gmail.com
Lesley
Hi Linda
I just saw your post and was hoping you might be interested in more books. I run a school library in North London and we are having a clear out. There are some rather old but good condition fiction books to go. Further we are having a clear-out of textbooks no longer needed due to curriculum changes. These can vary in numbers per title. Would you be interested in having them and could you collect as we do not have the money to pay for collection. We are in Mill Hill.
Kind regards
Meike
Hi Linda
I have 16 large Aldi bags full of books of all kinds, many in superb condition. I have twice booked with charity shops to collect them, but they have not come to pick them up. I have no access to a car, also cannot carry heavy things. If interested and you could collect you would be welcome to them. I live in SE London.
I am an EFL teacher who wants to donate second hand text books both old and current. Suitable for adults or teenagers. Only one ot two copies of each book available, so not enough for classroom teaching. Please contact me by email. I live in Harrow, NW London.
Hi Teresa, do you still have the books? I would be interested in collecting them to send to west Africa.
Look forward to your response.
thanks
Hello, I have a number of information books.
I live in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.
I would be happy to donate them all for Africa.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Hi there,
I work in a school in South-east London. We have literally hundreds of old txt books from various subjects that we would like to donate. Would you be able to help with this?
Thanks
Lee
Petersfield Youth Theatre (reg. charity no1069673) are putting on a production of ‘Candide’ in mid September 2016. The set is based around Voltaire’s study, and we are looking for literally thousands of hard back books that would otherwise be trashed or recycled. Can anyone help? We can collect in Hampshire, West sussex, Surrey area.
We have some science text books free to however can collect
Hi Teresa, do you still have the books? I would be interested in collecting them to send to west Africa.
Look forward to your response.
thanks
Hi Neka
Like Teresa, I am an ELT author – in may case I write books for primary aged children. I have quite a few text books that I would like to donate as well as some non-fiction books. Would they be useful to you?
Really hope so!
Sarah.
And I meant to say that I would be happy to help with the transport costs.
S
Hello Sarah, please I would be interested in any of the books for primary age if you still have any you would like to donate. Thank you
I have 2 Air Conditioning Training Manuals, would anyone be interested?:
1. COMPLETE CARRIER SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL PARTS 1 TO 12 IN RINGBINDER
2. TRANE AIR CONDITIONING MANUAL 1981
BOTH USED BUT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
Too good to just throw away, have tried on ebay but no luck, they have no isbn numbers so a lot of book websites are not interested.
I have photos if anyone is interested.
I have a selection of novels (modern fiction) to give away. They are mostly paperbacks. Any ideas how I can get them to a useful place?
We have old library books, covering a range of subjects, including fiction, factual books; old careers books also.
Greetings to you, Ken and Michelle, from Stamford CT, checking in, you’re invited for a moment, to reflect upon the issue of interior design coordinates for your own home. It is the likely the central feature to your domestic life. In late May of 2016, together we both stumbled upon this article and we’re OK to recommend it to you, for house decor ideas.
Hi,
have class size quantities of various Science text books that we no longer use – KS3 and KS4. If anyone can collect and make use of them please let me know.
(brownc@corpusleeds.org)
Hello, our organisation Maddison Pine, is supporting Fr. Alex You Memorial School in Uganda and we are looking for school books for primary and secondary education.
The school is dedicated to providing quality nursery, primary, and secondary education and holistic community development for poor communities in Mubende district (Central Uganda).
I am happy to arrange the collection of the books.
Thank you very much and may God bless you.
With regards and gratitude,
Olu
Hi Olu
We are based up in Leeds (West Yorkshire) – would it still be possible for you to collect?
If so, please contact me directly (brownc@corpusleeds.org) and I can give you details and quantities of available books.
Caron Brown
Hi
I have a lot of books available if you are still looking
Many thanks
Having a clear out of older GCSE science and maths textbooks (maybe other subjects too), will be several boxes full. Will be available for collection from central Swindon if anyone would like! Andrew (andrew.tabona@hotmail.co.uk
I need y and y 3 primary books ,if any have plzz
Hi
I have old GCSE and A level books if anyone wants them for Africa or any other location.
I live in Northolt mx
Carol
Hello friends,
I’m setting up a community library in Nigeria for children in primary and secondary school in order to promote a reading culture. I am able to pick up children’s reading books and text books from the London area. Would be grateful for any books we can get. Thank you.
Do you come with a truck and boxes to take the books I am wanting to give to your charity? I would need you to come to my office and take a box or two and fill it with books for your charity.
Hi all ! I’m collecting French books for an orphanage in Kpalime ( Togo, Africa ) for children from 3y to 16y …do you have something ? I can give you the adress to send them, let me know
(used books/second hand books) will do thank u
Yes i realy need them how can i contact you
PS any books on phonics and remedial English and maths (emphasis on remedial) also very very welcome